Update!
… Long time no blog eh? Well, never fear because all is well at Circus HQ. In fact, things have never been better and with some exciting announcements on the horizon you’ll soon forget we’ve ever been away.
Okay, so that was a slight fib. We were never really ‘away’. It’s hard to a hide when you’re a seven limbed, fully functional, lean, mean, folk… where am I going with this? Well, in short, the Circus have been paying their dues, hitting the road and telling their story to whoever will listen throughout 2013 so far. Okay, so we stayed home for New Years, shunned Valentines and we missed St Patrick’s Day (in every sense). Heck, we may have even forgotten your birthday but we didn’t give up writing and performing for lent. Working late at the office (what do you mean ‘again?!’?) has paid off with new songs being written and road tested at recent gigs.
… which brings us up to today and the summer. If you’ve attended any of our shows recently (thank you!) you may have heard a new rockabilly ditty featuring lines such as ‘chariots of fire’, ‘custom limousine’ and indeed references to roller coasters. No, we haven’t penned a tribute to unusual methods of transportation but with two gigs on the same night recently in London and a summer tour soon beginning they’re coincidently fitting references to how hectic things have been recently.
So, ‘thanks’ and ‘hello’ to all our new friends who have joined the Circus on the road and online so far this year. We love seeing those toes being tapped and chins being stroked (even if they’re not your own).
Back stage after opening the night’s fun and frolics at Embraced Burlesque, Wolverhampton.
The gang share some ‘quality time’ together in London before showtime
Live at The Waiting Room for Folke Newington in London
Carousel Circus present Kris Kringle’s Christmas Mingle 2012
We enter the second year of Carousel Circus’ annual Christmas extravaganza and the band are travelling home for Christmas. Last year was such a success we invite you all back again for a night of fun, folk and frolics at The Boot, Tamworth. Best of all its absolutely free. See you all on 21st December!
The Yardbird, 21/11/12
It’s always fun playing at Birmingham’s finest jazz club The Yardbird and Wednesday’s gig was no different. The weather outside was frightful but the crowd was so delightful. Thanks to all who attended.
Special mention and thanks to Mark Francis for photographs and vibraslap*
* http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vibraslap
Carousel Circus Live and Undead, Island Bar 28/10/12
Sunday night’s gig was a thriller…
Oxjam 2012, Lichfield 20/10/12
“I don’t want to see the bottom of this bucket” ordered Carousel Circus ringmaster Craig Gould. “You can either be sick in it or put your money in it” he joked, perhaps anticipating that a double header of folk music and charity may turn more stomachs than heads. Thankfully the lovely locals of Lichfield coughed up in the right way and the newly revised Circus septet, squeezed on to the Paradise Lounge’s stage and rumbled in to opener “Flowers Have Died”, a tribute to soldiers and victims of wars past and present.
Carousel Circus are in their second year of supporting Oxjam and this time returned with two new additions to the gang. With only a couple of rehearsals under her studded belt, new saxophone player Becky beamed: “I was nervous but I knew that we where going to sound magical and we did. Oxjam was full of life, autumn and atmosphere and was a perfect place to do our first gig as a 7 piece”.
Who could disagree? As Circus followers and newbies alike danced along to “I Ain’t Gonna Go Back” we were reminded how lucky we are to have the resources and the freedom to create and share our music within our community. Hopefully playing Oxjam on 20th October raised funds and awareness for people in communities where the same chances are scarce.
Congratulations and thank you to the students and staff of South Staffordshire and Lichfield college who organised a successful Oxjam across several venues in Lichfield.
INTRODUCING CRAIG FRANCIS
He’s been Chuck Norris’ stunt double since 1969. Swimming the length of the Amazon river, infested by anacondas, giant otters, piranhas, black caiman and those eerie, villainous looking pink dolphin, is child’s play to him. The film ‘Crocodile Dundee’ (all the wilderness bits, not the New York City part) was loosely based on his early life. He eats danger for breakfast. He can ice skate up hill. He once battled a grizzly bear (and won) while roaming through Bigfoot country looking for trouble and now for his most fearful and dangerous feat of all…
New Horizons
The MIGHTY Circus are currently VERY excited. There are some amazing adventures planned so watch this space…
Introducing Kevin Bishop
Some say he can touch his nose with his manhood…I just think he’s MIGHTY damn cool!
End of an Era
Good evening friends, Romans and countrymen, we, the band, would like to make an announcement.
After eight years of sweat, blood and tears Simon ‘Diamond’ Key has decided to hang up his stockings and drum sticks as the original drummer of Carousel Circus. It wasn’t a decision made lightly by Simon, but he decided that it was for the best as juggling work, family commitments and being a full time rockstar was becoming a struggle. Our last gig with him at the Tamworth bandstand was an emotional rollercoaster full of tears, laughter and beer and he will be sorely missed and hard to replace.
We would like it known that there are no ill feelings and it was all very honest and amicable, in fact Simon has expressed his desire to be our band photographer and still be involved with us creatively.
So let’s all sit at our computer desks and offer Simon a round of applause for all his years of service.
The Good Ship, London, July 2012
SETLIST:
- Dandelions & Fairies
- Song For The Old Days
- I Aint Gonna Go Back
- Medication
- You’ll Never Have A Better Time
- Jolene
- Ever Seeing Green
